The kitchen is considered to be the heart of every home. This is not only where food is prepared, but also where the family can sit and have a chat in the evening, as well as the perfect spot for the kids to do their homework. The popularity of open plan kitchens makes this room the most preferred and lived-in of the entire house. That said, you need to make your kitchen as family friendly as possible. Outlined below are the top ten things your kitchen needs to be considered family-friendly.
A Durable Worktop
A worktop is one of the critical requirements in every kitchen. You need a worktop that is not only attractive but strong enough as well. With plenty of cost-effective yet durable worktop solutions to choose from, you should be able to find the best laminate for the family. Other solutions, you can choose from are, glass worktops by Glass Inspirations, durable granite, natural wood, Encore, and Corian laminates for the perfect uniform finish. If you’re after for a minimalistic look and feel, you can then go for worktops that can be integrated with the sink.
Easy to Clean Walls – Wipe Clean
Kitchen walls take a lot of beating, and especially around food preparation areas. Sticky fingers, food splatters, and mist from boiling pots all cause the kitchen to have an unsightly dirty look and feel. Due to this reason, most people choose to have wall tiles installed around the food preparation areas, as well as an endurance paint capable of resisting stains and grease. Among other benefits, kitchen walls painted with endurance paint and with kitchen tiles installed are much easier to clean and maintain. Most of the stains can be wiped off easily without causing damage to the wall or the tiles.
An Open Dining Area
It makes perfect sense to have an open dining area in the kitchen. Most potential homebuyers are more interested in homes with an eating area. This means the kitchen needs to be spacious enough to accommodate a dining table and chairs. This may not be an option for small kitchen extensions. You can, however, get creative with the counter space to create a breakfast bar for the family.
A Comfy Sofa for Relaxing
Most kitchens are buzzing with activity in the evening, and some mornings as well. Having a comfortable sofa in the kitchen is an excellent idea as it makes it more welcoming. Be sure to invest in a couch that is not only easy to clean but one that doesn’t absorb cooking smells. A leather sofa, for instance, would be the perfect piece here.
Updated Tech
TV and sound systems are nothing new in today’s modern kitchens. Consider including these (don’t forget the charging area!) and more cutting edge technology in the kitchen; there are new products being launched all the time that can make the heart-of-your-home ‘smarter’ for all members of your family.
Playing Space for the kids
One thing with a family kitchen is that it needs to cater to all of the family. While the adults and older children may have the couch and stools, the kids too need a place to play in within the kitchen. Creating such a space encourages them to interact with those in the kitchen. Be sure to create a perfect spot for the kids to store their toys in; a basket or a low-shelf will do.
Child Locks
The kitchen isn’t exactly the safest place for your children to play in. In the kitchen, you’ll find toxic substances, sharp knives, and cupboards that aren’t child-friendly. You should also remember the risk of scalds and burns too. That said, consider installing the appropriate child locks on all drawers and cupboards within the child’s reach. Never leave any kid unattended in the kitchen either.
Install Soft-Close Drawers and Cupboards
Dealing with teenagers in the kitchen can drive you mad at times, especially if they are ones for slamming the cupboard doors. One way to avoid this is by installing soft-close hinges on your cupboards and drawers; as well as being less noisy these fixtures also help to protect the hinges.
Family Sized Hob and Oven
Having the appropriately sized appliances helps make preparing and cooking meals much more manageable. Consider the right-sized oven and hob for your family with a good number of shelves or rings respectively.
Adaptive Lighting
Every kitchen needs a good level of adaptable lighting, which will suit any task or mood, and which can be used throughout the day and evening. It optimises task lighting for use while preparing the foods, and also creates ambient lighting while dining and entertaining.
